"When the heart enters into the mind, the mind then has quite a different quality." Learning to abide in our practice and in our life as a whole with kindness and patience--the heart of metta--we are then able to respond rather than react to what life offers. Stories woven into this talk are from the time of the Buddha and from our contemporary time that exemplify what the Buddha called "The Lion's Roar."

The essential aim of the Buddha's teaching is toward the understanding that comes through our own direct experience; that there is no person who is a 'self' and no thing- nothing- that is a separate self.

Change is the fabric of life; its very essence. How often do we
forget, ignore, or distract ourselves from this natural truth and then
suffer the consequences? Clearly seeing and accepting impermanence is
truly the acceptance of life.

Change is the fabric of life; it's very essence. How often do we forget, ignore or distract ourselves from this natural truth and then suffer the consequence? Clearly seeing and accepting impermanence is truly the acceptance of life.

This practice is a path of inquiry, investigation and discovery that we fully participate in and experience for ourselves. By the power of our own attention-mindful awareness, with great interest and energy, we develop a concentrated clarity of presence, taking the time to look very deeply at our own experience of body, mind and heart. Through this process we are able to see and experience the nature of things. This is what leads to the deepest wisdom and happiness. This is what leads to awakening/liberation..

In thinking about the path of awareness and the refining of the heart that is the purpose of Buddhist philosophy, Sylvia suggests that she would like to amend the Eightfold Path to be the "Ninefold Path," adding Right Relationship as the ninthfold. Right Relationship is the sense of connection we feel in the world that holds us up. Hand holding is the metaphor Sylvia uses to symbolize this connection. Hands take us from the womb, and they put us in the grave. In between, it is one big "hand holding."